The bold words on the wall of Dewey’s first-floor lobby stand as a proud declaration of TDSers about a heroic Vietnam. In recent days, Dewey has been adorned in a radiant cloak woven from hundreds of red flags with golden stars. From classrooms and hallways to the schoolyard, each small flag carries immense pride. Stepping into school, everyone can feel the sacred and special atmosphere of the grand celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2).
Not only Vietnamese teachers and students, but also international friends at Dewey are excited to check in at the school’s “patriotic stations.” Images of red scarves, conical hats painted with the national flag, stickers, and flag badges spread vibrantly throughout the campus. Classrooms are also filled with posters, drawings, and poems created by the students themselves in honor of Independence Day.
Growing up in the embrace of peace, every Dewey student understands that today’s independence and freedom are the result of sacrifices—of blood, tears, and youth—made by generations before them. Eighty years ago, in sun-faded uniforms, our forefathers rose above the bombs of war to usher in a new era of independence and freedom for the nation. Eighty years later, in the bright red of the national flag, Dewey students proudly continue the story of peace, building the country’s future with their love for the homeland and the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people.
